Borders Books liquidates

Aug. 1 –
Downtown Davis’ Borders Books, Music, Cafe began liquidating its inventory after the national chain announced it was going out of business in July. The store has since closed.

– Originally reported by Becky Peterson

Investigation shows Picnic Day death resulted from neck injury

Aug. 1 – The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office did not press criminal charges against the friend who delivered a fatal punch to 22-year-old Scott Heinig, graduate of Davis Senior High School and a UC Davis baseball player. This summer, his death was classified as homicide – death by human hands – after a joint investigation by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and Davis Police Department.

– Originally reported by Angela Swartz

City proposes new downtown parking structure

Aug. 1 – The Davis City Council approved of continuing discussion about building a five-story parking garage downtown on Third, Fourth, E and F Streets. Those against the project said it was unnecessary and stated that what separates Davis from other cities is bike friendliness and alternative transportation.

– Originally reported by Ellis Clark

Housing group works on reopening Domes

Aug. 8 – The UC Davis Baggins End cooperative housing closed on July 31, but the local Solar Community Housing Association (SCHA) began negotiations with the university to lease the property and reopen the Domes later in the school year.

– Originally reported by Angela Swartz

Bill could fine bikers for cell phone use

Aug. 22 – The state Senate passed SB 28, which would increase the fines for drivers and motorists using handheld cell phones or texting while driving from $20 to $50 on the first offense and $50 to $100 on subsequent offenses. The bill also penalizes bikers who are texting or talking on the phone while bicycling, with $20 for the first violation and $50 on those following. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the bill on Sept. 7.

– Originally reported by Claire Tan

Water rate hikes concern community

Aug. 22 – The Davis City Council continued discussion on a project that would bring surface water from the Sacramento River to Davis in order to comply with state and water quality regulations. Water rates could increase incrementally over a five-year period, causing worries among residents and business owners. With the proposed plan, rates could nearly triple between now and 2016.

– Originally reported by Ellis Clark

CITY NEWS SUMMER DIGEST was compiled by ANGELA SWARTZ. She can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

TODAY

Davis Collegiate Panhellenic Association Fall Sorority Recruitment

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Freeborn Hall/Memorial Union

Fall formal sorority recruitment for the eight largest sororities at UC Davis began on Monday and continues until Saturday. Learn more about greek life and meet other women going through recruitment.

LGBT Resource Center Queer Welcome

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

University House Annex

The fifth annual Queer Welcome features networking opportunities, resources, delicious refreshments and provides attendees the ability to get connected to the campus community.

Shields Library Tour

Noon to 1 p.m.

Shields Library Lobby

Activate library cards, find the best places to study and discover where to go for research help today and Friday. Tour highlights include the Reference Desk for research, the Reserve Desk for textbook check out, the 24 Hour Study Room and Group Study spaces.

Transfer, Reentry and Veterans Fall Welcome

4 to 6 p.m.

ARC Ballroom

Meet other transfer students, meet the TRV Peer Advisors and become more familiarized with the resources UC Davis offers you. Come on down and bring a friend.

Women’s Resources and Research Center Fall Welcome

4 to 6 p.m.

First floor, North Hall

Learn more about the Women’s Resources and Research Center and what it can offer you this year.

Israel Night at Hillel

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Hillel House, 340 A Street

Davis might be 7,000 miles from Tel Aviv, but that doesn’t mean students can’t get a taste of Israel right here. Unwind from a day of class with some Israeli food, music, hookah and more. Get to know about Israel groups on campus and Hillel, Taglit- Birthright Israel, and MASA Israel programs.

Newman Catholic Student Community Welcome Mass

7 to 8 p.m.

1001 Giedt

Enjoy a festive Mass of Welcome on campus. Refreshments to follow Mass. Meet a Newmanite who will escort new students to Giedt Hall at the flag pole behind the Memorial Union at 6:45 p.m.

Davis Christian Fellowship Something in a Mug Night

7 to 9 p.m.

312 A Street

Grab a free mug and fill it up with an iced mocha, smoothie, ice cream and more. The Davis Christian Fellowship is a student community pursuing God and quality friendships. All are welcome.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship First Large Group Event

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

3 Kleiber

The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a multi-ethnic inter-denominational group of people who desire to seek and know more about Jesus and how to respond to his love, grace and truth.

FRIDAY

Newman Catholic Student Community Ice Cream Social and Open House

5 to 6 p.m.

Newman Center, Fifth and C St.

Get to know what is available at the Newman Center, find new discoveries and have great fun. Meet members of the Catholic faculty, staff and the Student Council. Meet a Newmanite at the flag pole behind the Memorial Union at 4:45 p.m. who will escort students to the Newman Center.

The Buzz 2011

6 to 11 p.m.

Quad

Kick off the academic year with the largest annual welcome event at UC Davis, filling the entire Quad and ASUCD Coffee House. The Buzz features music, carnival booths, casino, inflatable games, hands-on crafts, giveaways, free and low-cost food, info booths, photos and more. It’s all free to UC Davis students.

Welcome Week Shabbat Services and Dinner

6 to 9 p.m.

Hillel House, 340 A St.

Nothing says “it’s Friday night” like some challah, Manischewitz and a delicious home-cooked dinner. Liberal and traditional services will begin at 6:30, followed by one of Hillel’s famous Shabbat dinners ($5), cooked by our very own student chefs. Send questions and RSVPs to Maiya at programs@hillelhouse.org.

SATURDAY

Davis Christian Fellowship Barbeque and Sports Day

1 to 4 p.m.

312 A St.

Before the work load gets too heavy, enjoy a day of BBQ and sports.

Twilight Tour of UC Davis

9 to 11 p.m.

Meet in front of Segundo Services Center

Discover the UC Davis campus by night.

– Compiled by Erin Migdol

Fall is in the air! Leaves are changing color, summer romances are ending and the smell of fresh textbooks is wafting through campus.

For those of us returning, it’s just another quarter. But for those just walking onto the UC Davis campus for the first quarter, this can be an intimidating time.

Have no fear, because we’ve dug up the top 10 things students need to know to survive their years here at UC Davis.

Learn to balance school and fun.

It can be tempting with the newfound freedom of college to go to every party in town or hit the bars every weekend, but doing so will only hurt you in the long run.

Of course, you shouldn’t give up your social life completely. Making friends on campus is a great way to form study groups, and this is something that comes highly recommended by the student peer advisors on campus.

Cris Breivik, academic counselor, and the student peer advisors in the Residence Hall Advising Team (RHAT), agreed that you should always “smile, be nice and make friends.”

Don’t get in over your head.

Stephanie Holley, former UC Davis student, found out the hard way what it was like to fall behind in the beginning. She was placed on academic probation not long after arriving at UC Davis, and was later dismissed.

“Make sure you manage your time. Don’t overload yourself right away. If you’re going to take 18 units, make sure you have the time to take 18 units,” Holley said.

To be a full time student, you’re only required to carry 15 units, and this is a good number to start out with. Just remember that a typical bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete, so there is no hurry.

Holley has since received her phlebotomy license after attending MTI College in Sacramento.

“I really do want to go back to UC Davis,” Holley said. “It would be so much easier knowing what I know now. I just thought it was going to be easy.”

Obey bike rules.

Chances are, students are over 16, which means it is legal to leave your helmet at home. But if it makes you more comfortable, you won’t be the only one wearing one.

The RHAT advisors said to always be sure to lock your bike to something, preferably with a U-lock. Bikes do get stolen on campus, and you don’t want to risk being late to class because yours disappeared overnight.

Equally important as the U-lock and fender is to always watch for traffic in the bike circles. Sarah Greer, a UC Davis alumni who graduated with a degree in political science, learned the hard way the dangers of the bike circles.

“Someone wasn’t paying attention and jumped into the bike circle and ran right into me. My front wheel was all bent, and I really wasn’t able to ride it anymore,” Greer said.

Thankfully, there is the Bike Barn right on campus, and Bike Forth on Fourth and L Street, to help pick up the pieces after these bike accidents. However, the RHAT advisors warn about one more thing.

“Watch out for suicidal squirrels!”

Class attendance and office hours really are important.

Unlike high school classes, most professors won’t take roll, especially in the classes that are 300 to 400 students – there just isn’t the time. This makes it really tempting to skip that 8 a.m. class. Don’t.

Even if your professor posts lecture notes online, he or she will often say a lot that isn’t put into the lecture slides, and this is where your own notes come in handy.

While the professor and TA’s office hours are completely optional, they are also something you should attend. Professors love to answer questions, and the TAs are often still students, and will understand what you’re going to have trouble with.

As an added bonus, when it comes to the end of the quarter they will remember you, and this does have a positive impact on your grade.

Don’t procrastinate.

College essays are something that specifically should not be procrastinated on. Chances are, your professor will want at least three sources, and won’t accept all online sources, meaning you can’t use your smartphone to download sources at the last minute.

Often times, it helps to keep a planner, or hang a calendar on your wall. This allows you to keep your assignments organized and not panic when you pull out your syllabus and realize those 90 statistics problems are due in 30 minutes.

Get familiar with Shields Library.

Located right across the street from Memorial Union, Shields Library is almost impossible to miss. This is a great place to find sources that don’t come from the internet, and extra resources for difficult classes.

Shields Library is also by far one of the quietest places on campus to study, and has multiple private rooms for you and your study groups to lock yourself in.

This is also where you’ll find the 24-Hour study room, located on the side of the library closes to the MU. The 24-Hour room is exactly that – a study room open 24 hours a day – and a great place to avoid distractions at home. However, beware during finals week, when you may not be able to find a seat and you’ll see plenty of people sleeping on their books and laptops.

Use UC Davis resources.

There are a number of groups and resources on campus that are here to help you. Breivik and the RHAT advisors recommended getting involved in their programs.

“Go to Residence Hall Advising Team programs and take advantage of the Academic Advising Centers – you can take advantage of tutoring in math, chemistry and writing,” the RHAT advisors said.

According to the RHAT, tutoring is available in the Academic Advising Centers, provided by trained tutors from the Learning Skills Center.

Chemistry and math tutoring are offered every Monday through Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Writing and statistics tutoring are also available from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on specific days each week. Additional tutoring subjects may be offered in future quarters.

Get involved.

There are many different options to become involved on campus. Early in fall quarter, places such as the ASUCD Coffee House, Silo and Bike Barn are looking for people to join their staff. Working on campus allows you to meet other students and make yourself known on campus.

There are also student-run organizations that are always looking for new members, such as the California Aggie Marching Band-Uh and The California Aggie.

Sophomore psychology and biological sciences double major Amanda Jones said it’s important to explore new activities.

“My tip would be to not be afraid to try things you wouldn’t normally do,” Jones said. “It’s so easy to stay in your own bubble but in college there are so many opportunities to try new things and meet so many different people.”

Don’t go home every weekend.

Being homesick is common for first-year students just moving away from home, and it can be tempting to run home from Davis at every given opportunity, but you shouldn’t.

Chances are, going home will cause you to put your schoolwork to the back of your mind, only putting you into a hole when it is time to return Monday morning.

Eventually, the homesickness will lessen, and you can plan that surprise trip to see your mom over your spring break, when you can relax and leave the studying behind for a few days.

Sleep.

The easiest way to ensure time to sleep is to create a routine, and stick to it. RHAT recommends allotting at least two hours of studying for every hour of class per week.

This means that when you get out of class, you should head straight to a designated study area, other than your house, and knock your studying out while the materials are fresh in your mind. RHAT also advised to never go home to study.

Avoid all-nighters. The lack of sleep does take a mental toll on you, and eventually affects you physically as well. If you can’t get enough sleep during the week, devote one day every weekend to at least sleep in and relax.

MICHELLE STAUFFER can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

As one of the many benefits of membership in the California Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA), UC Davis graduates have the opportunity to travel the globe with pre-planned itineraries in the company of their fellow Aggies.

Over 33,000 former Davis students are currently members of the CAAA in an effort to remain connected to the UC Davis community. After spending four (or more) years becoming a part of the university, many graduates want to remain in the company of like-minded individuals in their travels abroad, said Aggie Adventures Director Nichole Silva.

“I think there’s an affinity with your fellow Aggie, to travel with someone that has a common thread such as having gone to UC Davis. People find that rewarding,” Silva said. “They like that everything is taken care of for them and that we’ve already done all the legwork- that’s what will initially get them on the trip. But what we hear a lot is that the thing they enjoy the most is having their fellow Aggies there with them.”

Aggie Adventures is currently accepting reservations for a total of thirty-three trips for the 2012 year. Trips are categorized by how physically rigorous they are projected to be, from leisurely (such as the one planned in Ireland) to challenging (hiking around pyramids in Egypt).

“A lot of the cruise trips are leisurely, where you can take day trips in port and walk at your own pace,” Silva said. “And then there are trips like Machu Piccu and the Galapagos Islands, where you climb to very high altitudes, [so] you have to be very physically fit.”

Aggie Adventures plans detailed trip itineraries that will maximize the educational as well as cultural experience for all travelers, working in lectures by UC Davis staff and other figures when possible to supplement the sights, dining, and activities. During the “Changing the Tides of History: Cruising the Baltic Sea” trip planned for next June, travelers will get a chance to hear speeches by former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and former President of Poland Lech Walesa.

A particular trip that students can look forward to is the Essential Europe summer tour, designed specifically for new and recent graduates. A 24-day adventure that makes its way by bus through 11 countries/principalities and priced at only $3,400 (not including airfare), this trip is one that is sure to appeal to seniors such as exercise biology major Richa Gupta, who is eagerly anticipating some sort of celebratory pilgrimage abroad before pursuing their post-grad goals.

“That’s exactly why we want to go,” Gupta said. “We realize that as soon as next fall comes around, we’ll all have a new routine going and it’ll be hard to meet up and do something so crazy. It’ll be like a last hurrah.”

Gupta, who is in the process of planning a three-week trip around Europe with a group of her closest friends, is prepared to spend the rest of her money on a memorable vacation before she goes into the real world to earn it all back. She is open to the idea of traveling with Aggie Adventures, who would appoint a coordinator to direct the group and take care of potential problems. However, she noted that while traveling with an organization would be beneficial by removing the burden of figuring out logistical aspects such as accommodations, it would sacrifice some amount of flexibility.

“Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m on vacation, when things are so scheduled,” Gupta said. “That’s how my everyday life is- a schedule. If I feel like going to the beach for six hours, that should be fine. I don’t want to have to walk through a museum instead, when I might not be [in the mood to] fully appreciate it at that time.”

Silva, who has directed Aggie Adventures for four years, addressed this concern and pointed out that although the itinerary appears to be densely packed, there actually is a fair amount of free time on the trip.

“There’s enough structure so that you don’t feel lost, so that it’s not overwhelming,” she said. “But for those who have traveled a bit, it’s not stifling. It’s a nice balance of structure and freedom.”

Matti Lee, who graduated from UC Davis in 2011 with a degree in genetics, went on the Essential Europe tour before starting at her current job working for chef and fellow alum Martin Yan.

“After looking back, if I planned my own trip I would have never been able to see or do half the things I did in 25 days,” Lee said. “Thankfully, the tour company also gave us recommendations on what to do when we had free time because we could not see everything.”

For those who have already traversed Europe and are looking to explore somewhere different, Aggie Adventures is offering Young Alumni China Passage, a trip geared toward recent graduates to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai in May 2012.

“At $2,400, all inclusive with air and meals it’s super, super cheap,” Silva said. “Not a lot of people would feel comfortable going to China without having some sort of structure. This trip provides that, and a lot of guidance when you are there.”

While membership in the CAAA is required to participate in the program, it is not required to be a UC Davis graduate to be eligible for membership, so students with friends attending other schools who wish to partake can still take full advantage of the program.

Currently, the program is offering an early-bird registration special for the Essential Europe trip. Future graduates who pay in-full from now until September 15th will receive a discount of $400.

“Travel while you have the time to when you are young because you may not have another opportunity to do so when you get older,” Lee said “Live it up when you travel, have no regrets, and try everything!”

LANI CHAN can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

THURSDAY

Shared Service Center Town Hall Meeting

10 to 11:30 a.m.

123 Science Lecture

Chancellor Linda Katehi is among the administrators who will address the town hall regarding the shared service center project’s finance, human resources and payroll functions.

FRIDAY

2nd Friday ArtAbout

5 to 9 p.m.

Downtown Davis

View artists’ works and enjoy complimentary refreshments at galleries and businesses around town, including Armadillo Music, Delta of Venus and International House of Davis. Enjoy live music and DJs in E Street Plaza and at many of the downtown venues.

SATURDAY

The Great California Paint Out

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Reception and silent auction 7 to 10 p.m.

John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First St.

In conjunction with the 9th International World Paint Out, over 100 artists will gather in downtown Davis to paint the town and offer instruction to those who are interested. Works will be hung and auctioned off in the John Natsoulas Gallery at a reception after the painting session.

To receive placement in the AGGIE DAILY CALENDAR, e-mail dailycal@theaggie.org or stop by 25 Lower Freeborn by noon the day prior to your event. Due to space constraints, all event descriptions are subject to editing, and priority will be given to events that are free of charge and geared toward the campus community.

A golden beverage emblematic of the indescribable Aggie spirit, and, conveniently, a perfect complement to steaks, burgers and pizza, is now available on tap at several local Davis restaurants.

On Aug. 16, UC Davis campus officials announced a new agreement between the athletic department and Sudwerk Brewery, known as the Aggie Lager Project. The contract, a one-year deal between the two parties, allows Sudwerk to utilize the university’s name and athletic trademark in marketing their latest microbrew, Aggie Lager.

In an effort to help recruit and retain student athletes, $25,000 from the proceeds generated by Aggie Lager will be used to provide athletic scholarships, said Scott Brayton, director of marketing and promotions for UC Davis Athletics.

“The agreement will provide the equivalent of one full year’s scholarship for an in-state student athlete at UC Davis,” Brayton said. “The funding will go into the grant-in-aid fund and benefit our student athletes.”

Aggie Lager is already popular at the establishments that pour it, including 3rd & U Café, Hallmark Inn, The Davis Graduate, Woodstock’s Pizza and Original Steve’s Pizza. The brew has been released just in time for the start of football season, meaning fans, parents and alumni can indulge in a cold glass at certain tailgates or sports bars.

“Aggie Lager has been well received on campus and in the community,” Brayton said. “It is becoming a product of choice at many university functions and local establishments.”

The beer is a light lager, with a yellow color that pairs with the trademarked Gunrock logo to be easily recognizable as Aggie blue and gold.

“Aggie Lager is from the helles tradition. Helles means ‘pale,’ so the

product is a lovely gentle yellow color, with a distinct malty character,” said Charles Bamforth, UC Davis professor of malting and brewing sciences. “This beer speaks to the traditions of all that is finest in the university and the world of brewing.”

Both the university and Sudwerk appear to be keenly aware of, and sensitive to, the moral gray area involved in a public university attaching its name to a beer.

“The last thing we want to do is to besmirch the name of the university. If anything, we want to elevate it,” said Sudwerk’s owner and Aggie alumnus Jay Prahl.

According to Bamforth, the beer is being marketed with the highest of values.

“No cheap sales gimmicks, not a ping pong ball in sight,” Bamforth said, who said he is proud of the close association between the university and Sudwerks. “[Beer] is a wonderful thing when consumed in moderation as part of a holistic, well-balanced and responsible lifestyle. The provenance of Aggie Lager very much speaks to that.”

The majority of students do not seem to view the contract as morally questionable.

“It doesn’t bother me. They’re trying to do whatever they can to expand their finances,” said junior economics major Myra Lee.

The introduction of Aggie Lager was reminiscent to Michael J. Lewis, opinion writer for The Davis Enterprise, of his college experiences at the University of Birmingham, where the readily available beer at the university’s student center allowed it to serve as a venue for both academic and social activities. In a recent column for the Enterprise, he contended that Aggie Lager should be sold on campus, to not only help the Aggie athletic department reach their goals but to also help unify two distinct areas of student life.

“I think it is the height of hypocrisy that this does not happen – the campus wants to make money and fame from alcohol, but objects to students drinking it on campus where they learn about it,” Lewis said in an e-mail interview.

The hang up for some students is why the funds are being allocated exclusively to athletic scholarships.

“Any student is as much an Aggie as any athlete,” said senior economics major Levi Cole.

The deal’s focus on athletics is rooted in both history and pragmatism. Since its inception, the Lager has always been marketed toward the athletics department. It was initially released nine years ago for the annual UC Davis athletics auction, and has since been poured to VIPs at major Aggie sporting events.

“The birth of the idea was just another way for us to support Aggie Athletics,” Prahl said. “When a school does well in athletics their donations go up from alumni. A premier athlete who takes UC Davis up a little higher could easily turn that $25,000 into a quarter of a million.”

Controversies aside, the university stands to gain a significant portion of funding from the deal. Additionally, the intangible element in the contract is the message of alumni giving back to their school.

“I think everyone daydreams when they’re in a class, ‘Someday when I get out of this school I’ll be famous in my career and I’ll be able to give back to my university.’ This is like a dream come true to make this beer with our school label on it,” Prahl said.

LANI CHAN and JUSTIN GOSS can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.